Link River Dam
| Company type | Dam |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hydroelectric power, Water management |
| Founded | 1921 |
| Founder | California Oregon Power Company (COPCO) |
| Headquarters | Klamath Falls , United States |
| Owner | United States Bureau of Reclamation |
| Parent | PacifiCorp (operator) |
The Link River Dam is a concrete gravity dam situated on the Link River in Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States. Constructed in 1921 by the California Oregon Power Company (COPCO), which later became part of PacifiCorp, the dam is currently owned by the United States Bureau of Reclamation. PacifiCorp is responsible for operating the facility.
This dam forms Klamath Lake, which has a storage capacity of . It plays a crucial role in flood mitigation, hydroelectric power production, and irrigation storage within the framework of the Klamath Reclamation Project. The dam measures 22 feet (7 m) in height and extends 435 feet (133 m) across the river.
Water discharge is controlled through two main outlets: one channel with a capacity of 3,000 ft³/s (85 m³/s), including 1,000 ft³/s (28 m³/s) diverted via the Ankeny Canal, and another channel releasing 290 ft³/s (8 m³/s) through the Keno Canal. These canals feed two hydroelectric turbines downstream operated by PacifiCorp, which generate a combined output of 151 MW. Ultimately, all water flows into Lake Ewauna.
In 2004, PacifiCorp revealed intentions to discontinue the Link River hydroelectric project due to costly repairs needed for canal and pipeline infrastructure. Nonetheless, by 2014, the company planned to maintain short-term operation of the plant at a reduced capacity level.
History
Following the Modoc Wars in 1878, residents of what was then called Linkville (now Klamath Falls, Oregon) established the "Linkville Water Ditch Company" to construct a basic canal linking their properties to the Link River. In 1884, William Steele extended this canal by , and upon his death in 1888, management transferred to the Klamath Falls Irrigation Company. This canal is presently known as the Ankeny Canal.
In 1877, brothers Charles and Rufus Moore excavated another canal on the opposite side of the Link River to supply power for a sawmill and facilitate log transportation from Upper Klamath Lake; this waterway was later designated as the Keno Canal.
On February 24, 1917, representatives from USBR and COPCO agreed on a ten-year lease of the Keno Canal for $1,000 per year, granting COPCO authority to regulate outflows from Klamath Lake. COPCO installed a temporary low-crib dam near what is now Putnam's Point in 1919, before commencing construction on a permanent dam on July 29, 1920.
Oregon Senator George E. Chamberlain requested a suspension of construction on August 20, 1920, pending review of contractual legality. After finalizing an additional contract on December 10, COPCO resumed work on May 15, 1921, completing the dam by October 29.
Current operations
Following the conclusion of a 50-year agreement between USBR and PacifiCorp in 2006, PacifiCorp proposed halting hydroelectric generation at Link River due to expensive fish passage compliance requirements. Despite this change, the dam would continue serving as a water storage and flood control structure. This proposal was independent of plans to remove four other dams within the same watershed managed by PacifiCorp.
By 2014, PacifiCorp aimed to sustain limited power generation at Link River while significantly reducing impacts—by roughly 90%—on two endangered fish species: the Lost River sucker and Shortnose sucker. Operational modifications were designed to strike a balance between electricity production and environmental protection. Discussions regarding further decommissioning remain ongoing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.